Playing, talking, and acting out stories with small children is a great way to help them develop the skills they will need in order to read later on. Here’s a fun and inexpensive craft that you can make at home to help foster pre-reading skills.

You will need:

a rectangular tissue box

a craft knife or scissors (adults only)

old magazines, greeting cards, or dry food boxes

craft sticks

tape

To Make:

Carefully remove any plastic from around the oval tissue opening.

Turn the box on its side and cut out one of the long sides of the tissue box.

Hold the box so that the cut-out side faces down to the floor and the oval tissue opening faces toward the audience.

You now have your own puppet stage! Try making simple puppets by taping pictures cut from old magazines, greeting cards, or cereal boxes to craft sticks and have fun acting out your favorite story or nursery rhyme.

This article originally appeared in our Early Lit Bits eNewsletter. Read the most recent issue online or sign up to receive this monthly update highlighting early literacy tips and resources for parents and caregivers.

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